Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement from Cricket: On August 24, Cheteshwar Pujara officially walked away from the game he dedicated his life to. The 37-year-old announced his complete retirement from cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable era. For years, Pujara was seen as the man who carried forward Rahul Dravid’s legacy as ‘The Wall’ of Indian cricket, and now, he too has signed off.
Cheteshwar Pujara Explains His Decision
Pujara hadn’t featured in a Test for India since 2023, with his last outing coming in the World Test Championship Final against Australia. Still, he remained active in domestic cricket and was preparing for another Ranji season – until a change of heart made him reconsider. Speaking to PTI, he opened up about why he decided it was time to step away.
“When I was in the UK (on broadcasting duties during Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy), I was actually looking forward to the season. But once I came back home, I was settling in and when I was about to start my preparation for the Ranji Trophy, I wanted to speak to my family, to my friends, some of my colleagues. What are their thoughts on me playing this season,” he said.
He continued, “Because I knew that if I played another season, I would be holding a spot in the team and I didn’t want to do that. And I wasn’t 100 per cent sure that I wanted to carry on playing the entire season. So I thought that it was the best time for me to move on and provide an opportunity to the younger players who can be part of the Saurashtra team.”
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Cheteshwar Pujara’s Debut and Career Stats
Pujara’s journey began back in 2010 when he made his Test debut against Australia. He scored just four runs in the first innings but came back strongly with 72 in the second, helping India secure a seven-wicket win and clinch the series 2-0.
While his ODI career never really took off—he managed only 51 runs in five matches – his Test record speaks volumes. Across 103 games, he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.61, including 19 centuries. His highest score was an unbeaten 206.
Pujara’s Role in Indian Cricket Success
More than the numbers, though, Pujara’s true value lay in his ability to grind down opposition bowlers. By wearing them out, he gave stroke-makers like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma the freedom to play their natural game. His resilience was crucial in India’s back-to-back Test series wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, where he absorbed blow after blow to keep India’s batting steady.
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Who Will Replace Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3?
Now, with Cheteshwar Pujara gone, India once again faces the big question of who will step into the No. 3 role – the same way he did when Rahul Dravid retired. The answer isn’t clear yet, but one thing is certain: filling those shoes won’t be easy.
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